Stave structure for bins and the like



y 1934 s. T. PLAYFORD 1,958,799

STAVR STRUCTURE FOR BINS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 11. 1930 VME InVenTo nf. A +34- k fi Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4Claims.

My invention relates to stave structures for bins and the like, and ithas for its object the provision of a new and improved form andarrangement of parts by the use of which a builder is enabled moreeasily and more quickly to put up a structure in proper condition, byreason of which the danger of breaking or cracking a block or stave bythe pressure applied thereon through the medium of the binding rods maybe very greatly reduced, whereby the appearance of the block and of thebin or other building comprising such blocks may be improved, wherebythe difficulty of obtaining proper seats for the binding rods may begreatly reduced, whereby a better and stronger joint may be insuredbetween staves, and whereby a stave or block may be otherwise improvedin sundry details as hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means bywhich I have accomplished my object is illustrated in the drawing and ishereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be new anddesire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an outer face view of a plurality of blocks shown in built-uprelation to each other for the formation of a bin or other structure;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken at line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of two of the staves as 30 shown in Fig. 1.

In the several figures of the drawing, in which corresponding parts areindicated by the same reference characters, indicates a base of concreteor the like forming the floor of the bin or other structure to be builtthereon.

My improved block, preferably formed of concrete has a body portion 11,with a groove 12 in one side edge and a correspondingly shaped tongue 13at its opposite side edge, the arrangement being such that a pluralityof the blocks or staves are adapted to have tongue and groove engagementwith each other in the well known manner. At the upper end of each ofthe blocks, I have provided a horizontally disposed tongue 14 which isadapted to engage a correspondingly formed and positioned groove 15 inthe bottom end of the adjacent block or stave, it being understood, ofcourse, that each of the several blocks employed is provided with suchgroove 15.

Each of the blocks is provided on its outer face with two outwardlyprojecting ribs 16 arranged in longitudinal position thereon, thearrangement being such that in a built-up structure comprising aplurality of the staves the adjacent ribs 16 are in substntially equallyspaced relation. As is best shown in Fig. 2, the outer face of each ofthe ribs 16 is in corrugated form providing a series of indentationseach of which is of considerably greater size vertically thanhorizontally. By the provision of such mildly curved corrugated form,

suitable seats are provided for the binding rods 17, such binding rodsbeing enabled to find proper seats on the ribs with considerablelatitude with respect to their vertical position, it being unnecessarythat the binding rod engage the indentation precisely at the center ofits curvature. The equal spacing of the ribs is effected in theconstruction shown by locating such ribs in equally spaced relation tothe side edges of the outer face of the stave and at a distance fromeach other corresponding substantially to onehalf the width of saidouter face.

For erecting a bin or other structure of the kind, a number of specialblocks are provided, such as the block 18 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of asmaller length than the normal size of the blocks, such blocks 18 beingformed special or being provided by cutting off the lower end of one ofthe regular blocks, such as the block 19 shown in Fig. 1. When acomplete tier of blocks 18 and 19 have been set up in proper position,the binding rods 17 are applied and tightened about the blocks. Byreason of the mild curvature of the corrugations in the outer faces ofthe ribs 16, the binding rods 1'7 may be applied very easily and quicklywithout regard to any slight lack of alignment of the indentations ofthe several blocks in which the rod is placed, the rod being adapted toapply its pressure evenly upon the block whether or not it is seated incentered position in the indentation. I have found in practice that whenblocks of my improved type are employed and when the rods 17 are drawnup very tight, this is accomplished without putting any undue strainupon the blocks. I have found that in the use of my improved stave anyordinarily careful workman can build up a structure in the mannerindicated in the drawing without the breakage of any of the staves eventhough the binding rods 17 are made as tight as they can' readily bemade. By using full-length blocks for successive tiers, the joints willbe broken throughout the entire structure. Since it is necessary inbuilding up one tier of staves to enter the staves between the staves ofthe previous tier, it will be understood that the binding rods arepreferably not tightened completely for one tier until the next tier isin position.

The edge portions of the staves at their inner faces are shaped in suchmanner that clearance is T provided between the staves so as to makepossible the formation of a bin or other structure upon a comparativelysmall radius. After the tightening of the staves in position, the jointsbetween the staves are filled with cement mortar or grout for providinga key 20, as is shown in Fig. 3, between. each of the adjacent blocks.As is shown in Fig. 3, the key 20 is substantially flat on its innerface and the side faces of the key converge outwardly. With thisarrangement, there is very little danger that the key will be broken andthe key is definitely locked in position so as to prevent its escape.

By the provision of the ribs 16 on the outer face of the block, I haveprovided thickened portions of the body so as to provide for theinsertion of reenforcing rods 21, as is best shown in Fig. 3, suchreenforcing rods being positioned directly opposite the ribs. By thisarrangement, the reenforcing rods are amply protected with respect tothe weather and with respect to fire.

I have found in practice that my stave structure is very useful, in thatby its use a workman can build up a structure of the desired size veryrapidly and very easily. The completed structure comprising the stavesis of very great strength and is very attractive in appearance.

While I prefer to employ the construction as shown in my drawing and asabove described, it will be understood that I do not limit my inventionthereto except so far as the claims are so limited by the prior art, itbeing understood that changes may well be made in the construction andarrangement without departing from my invention.

I claim:

1. A stave for bins and the like, comprising a body portion havingoutwardly projecting ribs extending longitudinally thereof on its outerface, said ribs being substantially equally spaced from the side edgesof the outer face of the stave and being spaced at a distance from eachother corresponding substantially to one-half of the width of the outerface of the stave.

2. A stave for bins and the like, comprising a body portion havingoutwardly projecting ribs longitudinally thereof on its outer face andhaving a groove at one side edge and a tongue at the other side edgewhereby the stave is adapted to have tongue and groove engagement withsimilar staves at opposite sides thereof, the outer face of each of saidribs being provided with a series of indentations each of which is ofconsiderably greater size vertically than horizontally providing seatsfor the reception of binding rods.

3. A stave for bins and the like, comprising a body portion havingoutwardly projecting ribs longitudinally thereof on its outer face andhaving a groove at one side edge and a tongue at the other side edgewhereby the stave is adapted to have tongue and groove engagement withsimilar staves at opposite sides thereof, the outer face of each of saidribs being corrugated, with the curvature comparatively very mildwhereby a binding rod may find a seat with considerable latitude withrespect to vertical position thereon. 100

4. A stave for bins and the like, comprising a body portion havingoutwardly projecting ribs longitudinally thereof on its outer face andhaving a groove at one side edge and a tongue at the other side edgewhereby the stave is adapted to have tongue and groove engagement withsimilar staves at opposite sides thereof, said ribs being so arranged onthe face of the stave that in a built-up structure comprising aplurality of the staves adjacent ribs have substantially equally 110spaced relation, the outer face of each of said ribs being corrugated,with the curvature compara-tively very mild whereby a binding rod mayfind a seat with considerable latitude with respect to vertical positionthereon.

STERLING T. PLAYFORD.

